The year the Padres
drafted Jake in the 15th round, they had six first-round picks. Only
one—Mike Bynum—saw any major league time.

Jake wanted to
wear his father’s high school number, 22, but it was already taken.
He chose 44 instead.

In May of 2006,
Jake set a franchise records with 16 strikeouts in a game. He pitched
seven innings and lost to the Atlanta Braves.

Jake is the youngest
San Diego hurler to appear in an All-Star Game.

Jake was San Diego’s
first ERA champion since Randy Jones in 1975. He was the youngest ERA
champion since Dwight Gooden.

Jake gave up Barry
Bonds’ 700th home run. But he also stopped the slugger’s
seven-game home run streak in 2003.

In 2004, Jake became
the first San Diego starter to be named Pitcher of the Month since Andy
Hawkins in 1985. He was honored again in 2005.

Jake was the first
pitcher to throw a shutout in RFK Stadium since Mickey Lolich in 1971.

Jake , Andy Benes
and Kevin Brown are the only San Diego starters to average a strikeout
an inning over the course of a season.

When Jake bats,
the Padres play the Dukes of Hazard theme song over the PA.

During his fabulous
2004 campaign, the Padres rewrote Jake’s contract and gave him
a four-year, $15 million deal. When agent Scott Boras suggested he hold
out during the winter, Jake fired him.

Jake’s younger
brother, Luke, was a star catcher in high school. He led St. Paul to
the state championship in 2003 and accepted a scholarship to the University
of South Alabama. He hopes to catch for his brother in the majors one
day.

Jake met his wife,
Katie, in high school. They were married at 19 and now have two children,
Jake II and Wyatt.

Jake owns a home
in Mobile where he and Katie spend the winters. He also owns a family
retreat about two hours north in Camden.